Recommended speakers for Beomaster 5000

Hi Everyone, 

What B&O speakers sound best with the Beomaster 5000? 

I'm currently using -  2x Mirage 290s and 2x JBL E60s which sound very nice, but I would like to get some B&O speakers. 

Any suggestions? I've done a search but can't find the information and get lots of conflicting opinions. 

Lee

Appropriate speakers would be any of the passive Beovoxes, more time appropriate ones would be from the Redline series. I think others can give you more info on them, I never had a pair, and some of them, like the early RL60s, had passive radiators which deteriorated and are hard to repair/replace. I know a number of people seem to like the RL 60.2.

 

Thanks for your reply Jeff. 

I do like the look of the red lines but I'm not sure on the sound quality.... I've heard mixed reviews. 

Someone told me today that I can connect my Beomaster 5000 to Beolab Pentas and I'll even get working displays... apparently all I need is a special cable to connect them (with the 3rd pin on the speaker plug) ... I'm sure I've read somewhere that this is not the case.... can anyone confirm or deny this? 

Lee

I haven't heard the Redlines since the 80s and even then not in a good environment or for any length of time so I can't advise. Many around here seem to like them though. Not sure how the connection to active loudspeakers would work, it's doable but I entered the Beo arena later, directly into the active speaker and no passive speakers days so I don't know much about that.

Be aware that any speaker from that era will probably need some refreshing. Crossover capacitors replaced on about anything, for things like the Pentas most likely refoaming of the surrounds on the midrange drivers as well. That should not dissuade you though as nothing is impossible and folks here have done it all and can advise and help. I do really like the old Pentas, especially the very cool displays on them, and on the Beolab 3000/4500/5000 wall mount speakers, which are another option of you can handle wall mounting. 

I lusted after your system back in the day, but having bought my first house I was way too poor to afford it. I will say that moving into B&O gear was the best decision in audio I've ever made and has brought me more overall pleasure and satisfaction than any electronics I've ever owned. I hope you experience is the same!

You can connect the BS5000 to the Pentas using speaker level or preamp level outputs, but you need the Speakerlink output of the BS5500 to drive the displays. The BS5000 does not have the compatible output for this type of connection.

Thanks DMacri I thought that was the case... If I connect to the preamp level outputs how will I control the volume?

Lee

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for the info.

I absolutely love this system... its my pride and joy... its beautiful in looks and sound. I just wish I had some nice B&O speakers to go with it. But with my budget I think I'm going to be waiting a long time... it took me many months to save up to get my stylus re-tipped and that was comparatively cheap, its very hard when you can't work due to illness :-( 

All the best,

Lee

 

Lee:

Thanks DMacri I thought that was the case... If I connect to the preamp level outputs how will I control the volume?

Lee

The preamp outs on the receiver are controlled by the volume control, they're not like the fixed level outputs for a tape deck or such.

The thing to do might be to keep a lookout for a used pair of RL 60.2 speakers, even if they aren't perfect and you have to give them some TLC to get them back to snuff. People on here have refurbished them before and there are threads showing what was done. Even the grills can be saved, there are places that sell the straps that go around the speakers and hold the grills on, just about everything. Most important consideration is that the drivers are good, and the black plastic cabinet is in good shape. Everything else can be handled pretty much, some with more effort than others, but I find restoring things a pleasant hobby that gives you a real sense of reward when it all comes together. Member Dillen here can get capacitor kits for not much money to bring the crossovers up to snuff.